Off the coast of the Cape, an aquatic cabinet of curiosities

Known as the greyhounds of the sea, fin whales are second only to blue whales in size, and can reach 85 feet in length.
Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies

Off the coast of the Cape, an aquatic cabinet of curiosities

Known as the greyhounds of the sea, fin whales are second only to blue whales in size, and can reach 85 feet in length.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

The distended nostrils of a humpback are placed high on its head, enabling it to breathe at the surface.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

Author Philip Hoare with a dead common dolphin on Provincetown’s Town Beach. Tissue samples taken by naturalist Dennis Minsky for IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) may determine the cause of death of this young female.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

Clouds of herring gulls take the opportunity to feed from a humpback whale’s mouth.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

The National Seashore between Race Point and Long Point, is known as ‘Fin Back Alley’ by whalewatch captains for its frequently-seen whales.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

Humpbacks are prone to parasites such as barnacles, the scars of which remain as white rings.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

The distended nostrils of a humpback are placed high on its head, enabling it to breathe at the surface.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

An unusual sighting of a small pod of common dolphin feeding in Cape Cod Bay.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

A pair of humpbacks arch to dive back below, ready to feed again.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

A large male humpback, named Aswan by researchers, pushes a school of bait fish to the bow of the Dolphin Fleet whalewatch boat. The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies have already identified more than 70 whales in the area this year.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

A humpback uses its muscular tail to jack-knife itself down on a dive.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014

Baleen whales use keratin plates in their upper jaws to strain out their food. An adult humpback can consume a ton of sand eels every day.

Philip Hoare, with thanks to the Dolphin Fleet and Dr. Jooke Robbins of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
| May 31, 2014